JOEY Barton's outburst over his 'unacceptable' contract offer has made it even less likely Manchester City will increase his take-it-or-leave it é28,000-a-week deal.

The combative midfielder may have won the Blues fans over with his excellent performance in last night's 3-0 Barclays Premiership win at home to Newcastle, but attitudes within the club are hardening.

Given Barton's much-publicised indiscretions, some members of the City hierarchy already believed the club had moved too quickly in opening talks with the 23-year-old over an extension to a contract he signed only in September 2004.

Agenda

Doubts about the player's temperament have only increased following his ill-advised remarks on satellite TV before the Newcastle win when he claimed there were people within Eastlands who had an agenda against him.

While it is hoped Barton can still be persuaded to stay, City officials know any increase in the offer made to the Huyton-born midfielder last week would be seen as a sign of weakness on the club's part.

If Barton thinks he can drive a wedge between manager Stuart Pearce, chairman John Wardle and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh - who is manfully attempting to drag the club's é57million debt down to an acceptable level while maintaining investment in the team - he is sadly mistaken.

"If Joey feels the chief executive or chairman are divorced from me in any way he is a mile wrong," said Pearce.

"There are no agendas at this football club. Decisions are made unanimously between the board, the chairman and myself.

"They might be the ones who sit and talk to Joey and his agent face-to-face but they are only delivering my words and my recommendations.

"That is the way we work at this football club, and it has worked fine until now."

Gripe

Barton's main gripe is that he does not believe the offer City have made puts him in line with the top earners at the club, something the club strenuously deny.

The departure of é35,000-a-week man Robbie Fowler has reduced the top-line figure anyway. Those who currently head the list, David James and Andy Cole, boast international caps and major medals - both of which have so far eluded Barton.

In addition, neither has come anywhere close to developing Barton's reputation for attracting trouble, with Pearce quick to point out it is not that long since the midfielder was facing the sack for attacking a schoolboy Everton fan in a bar-room brawl in Bangkok.

"I wouldn't say this was a harder situation to deal with than the last one," observed Pearce.

"You get used to these things with Joey.

"He has strong opinions, as we have all seen. But it was only six months ago and 27 games ago that Joey Barton had a lot of problems in his life - and this football club stood by him in a big way.

"Joey responded to that and has turned in some very impressive performances, which is why we called him in and opened negotiations over a new contract in the first place.

"I spoke to him for two hours on Tuesday. He has an opinion of where he should be in the wage scale of this club - but so do I.

"I have quite a few excellent players at this club and a budget I need to adhere to. Manchester City cannot afford a short-term boom-and-bust policy."